Aminoindanes amides having a high fungicidal activity and their phytosanitary compositions

ABSTRACT

New aminoindanes amides are described, having general formula (I) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     the relative phytosanitary compositions and their use for the control of phytopathogenic fungi.

The present invention relates to new amides of 4-aminoindanes having a high fungicidal activity, the relative phytosanitary compositions and their use for the control of phytopathogenic fungi.

More specifically, it relates to new amides of 4-aminoindanes, further substituted by specific groups on the phenyl group of indane, having a high activity in the control of pathogenic fungi of important agricultural crops.

Amides obtained from benzoic or hetero-cyclylcarboxylic acids condensed with 4-aminoindanes are described in patent applications JP1070479, JP 1117864, JP1313402, JP2157266, JP2249966, JP3077381, JP62096471, EP199822, EP256503, EP276177, EP280275, EP569912, U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,347, WO2001/53259, WO2004/018438, WO2004/039789, WO2004/072023, WO2004/103975, WO2005/075452.

In particular, EP199822 describes 1,3,5-trimethyl-N-(1,1-dimethyl-5-fluoro-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide [compound (4)] and 1,5-dimethyl-3-trifluoro-methyl-N-(1,1-dimethyl-7-fluoro-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazole-carboxamide (page 15, lines 19-20); U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,347 describes 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide.

The amides of 4-aminoindanes described in the prior art, however, are not completely satisfactory from the point of view of the level of fungicidal activity against phytopathogenic fungi, the action range, and phytotoxicity with respect to the agricultural crops to be protected.

The Applicant has now surprisingly found that new amides, obtained by the condensation of heterocyclic acids substituted by a CF₂H group, with 4-aminoindanes containing alkyl groups in positions 1 and 3 of indane and one or more further substituents on the phenyl ring, show, with respect to the compounds described above, a much higher fungicidal activity, a wider action range, a reduced or zero phytotoxicity with respect to the most important agricultural crops. The object of the present invention therefore relates to aminoindanes amides having the structural formula (I):

wherein:

-   -   R₁, R₂ and R₄, equal to or different from each other, represent         a C₁-C₂ alkyl group, a C₁-C₂ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl         group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, the groups R₁ and R₂ can         also possibly be joined to form a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group         spiro-condensed with indanyl;     -   R₃ represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃         haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆         halocycloalkyl group;     -   R₅ represents a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₁-C₄         haloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group,         an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio         group;     -   n represents an integer ranging from 1 to 3;     -   A represents one of the following heterocycles A₁-A₅:

-   -   R₆ is a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆         cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy         group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group, an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio         group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio group.

Examples of compounds having formula (I) which are particularly interesting for their activity are:

-   (1)     3-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-1-methyl-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (2)     4-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-2-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxamide; -   (3)     3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3,7-tetramethyl-4-indanyl)-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (4)     4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-N-(1,1,3,7-tetramethyl-4-indanyl)-5-thiazolecarboxamide; -   (5)     3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(7-methoxy-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (6)     4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-N-(7-methoxy-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-5-thiazolecarboxamide; -   (7)     3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(7-methylthio-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (8)     4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-N-(7-methylthio-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-5-thiazolecarboxamide; -   (9)     3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(7-trifluoromethoxy-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (10)     4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-N-(7-trifluoromethoxy-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-5-thiazolecarboxamide; -   (11)     3-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-furazancarboxamide -   (12)     4-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-2-methylthio-4-pyrimidinecarboxamide. -   (13)     3-difluoromethyl-N-(7-chloro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-1-methyl-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (14)     3-difluoromethyl-N-(7-chloro-1,1-diethyl-3-methyl-4-indanyl)-1-methyl-4-pyrazolecarboxamide; -   (15)     4-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-5-thiadiazolecarboxamide.

Preferred compounds having general formula (I) are those wherein A represents A₁, R₁, R₂, R₄ and R₆ are a methyl group, R₃ is a hydrogen atom, R₅ represents a halogen.

Examples of halogen are: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine.

Examples of C₁-C₄ alkyl, linear or branched, are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl.

Examples of C₁-C₄ haloalkyl are fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, heptafluoropropyl, 4,4,4-trichlorobutyl.

Examples of C₁-C₄ alkoxy, linear or branched, are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy.

Examples of C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy are fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chloromethoxy, dichloromethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 1,1,2,2-tetra-fluoroethoxy, 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy, 4,4,4-trichlorobutoxy.

Examples of C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl.

Examples of C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl are 2,2-dichloro-cyclopropyl, 2,2-difluorocyclopropyl, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclobutyl, 3,3-difluorocyclopentyl, 2-fluorocyclohexyl.

Examples of C₁-C₄ alkylthio, linear or branched, are methylthio, ethylthio, n-propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutylthio, sec-butylthio, tert-butylthio.

Examples of C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio are fluoromethylthio, difluoromethylthio, trifluoromethylthio, chloromethylthio, dichloromethylthio, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl-thio, 1,1,2,2-tetra-fluoroethylthio, 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl-thio, 4,4,4-trichloro-butylthio.

Due to the asymmetry of the carbon atom in position 3 of the indanyl ring and possibly the atoms in position 1 (when R₁ is different from R₂) and 2 (when R₃ is different from hydrogen), the compounds having formula (I) may occur as mixtures of optical isomers and possibly diastereoisomers.

The compounds having formula (I) are therefore included in the spirit of the present invention both as racemic and possibly diastereoisomeric mixtures, both as partially separated mixtures, either as single optical isomers and possibly as single diastereoisomers.

The compounds having formula (I) are prepared by reacting a substituted acid or one of its derivatives having formula (II), with an aniline having formula (III), according to the reaction scheme indicated below:

In these formulae:

-   A, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅ and n have the meanings defined above; -   X represents a hydroxy OH; a halogen atom; a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a     phenoxy group; an acyloxy group RCOO wherein R in turn represents a     group A, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group or a phenyl optionally substituted by     C₁-C₄ alkyl groups, C₁-C₄ haloalky groups, halogen atoms.

The reaction conditions for effecting the process indicated above, in which an acid or one of its corresponding halides, esters or anhydrides (possibly mixed) is reacted with an amine, are widely described in chemical literature, for example in “Advanced Organic Chemistry”, Jerry March, 4^(th) Edition, 1992, John Wiley & Sons Pub., pages 417-424 and references cited therein.

Various alternative conditions can be selected, also depending on the nature of the compound having formula (II); for example, when X represents a halogen atom, preferably chlorine, the reaction is normally carried out in the presence of an inert solvent and in the presence of an organic or inorganic base, at a temperature ranging from −20° C. to the boiling point of the reaction mixture.

Examples of solvents which can be used for the above reaction include water, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons (petroleum ether, hexane, cyclohexane etc.), chlorinated hydrocarbons (methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane, etc.), aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, etc.), ethers (diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dimethoxyethane, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate etc.), ketones (acetone, methylethylketone, methylpropyl-ketone, methylisobutylketone, etc.), nitriles (acetonitrile, benzonitrile, etc.), aprotic dipolar solvents (dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, hexamethylphosphorotriamide, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.)

Inorganic bases which can be used for the purpose are, for example, hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium or potassium.

Organic bases which can be used for the purpose are, for example, triethylamine, pyridine, 4-N,N-dimethyl-aminopyridine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N-methyl-piperidine, lutidine, diazabicyclo-octane (DABCO), diazabicyclononene (DBN), diazabicycloundecene (DBU).

The intermediates having general formulae (II) and (III), when they are not already described in literature, can in any case be prepared by adapting synthetic methods well known to experts in the field.

For example, pyrazolecarboxylic acids [formula (II) wherein A=A₁, X═OH] can be prepared according to what is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,347; thiazolecarboxylic acids [formula (II) wherein A=A₂, X═OH] can be prepared according to what is described in DE 10250110; pyrimidinecarboxylic acids [formula (II) wherein A=A₄, X═OH] can be prepared according to what is described in EP 569912.

The corresponding acid derivatives (esters, anhydrides, halides) can be easily prepared from these according to what is described, for example, in “Advanced Organic Chemistry”, Jerry March, 4^(th) Edition, 1992, John Wiley & Sons Pub., pages 392-402, 437-438 and references cited therein.

As already mentioned, the compounds having general formula (I) have a very high fungicidal activity which is exerted with respect to numerous phytopathogenic fungi which attack important agricultural crops.

A further object of the present invention therefore relates to the use of the compounds having general formula (I) for the control of phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops.

Examples of phytopathogenic fungi which can be effectively fought with the compounds of general formula (I) according to the present invention, are those belonging to the groups of Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes, Deuteromycetes or fungi imperfecti, Oomycetes: Puccinia spp., Ustilago spp., Tilletia spp., Uromyces spp., Phakopsora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Erysiphe spp., Sphaerotheca spp., Podosphaera spp., Uncinula spp., Helminthosporium spp., Rhynchosporium spp., Pyrenophora spp., Monilinia spp., Sclerotinia spp., Septoria spp. (Mycosphaerella spp.), Venturia spp., Botrytis spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Cercospora spp., Cercosporella herpotrichoides, Colletotrichum spp., Pyricularia oryzae, Sclerotium spp., Phytophtora spp., Pythium spp., Plasmopara viticola, Peronospora spp., Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Bremia lactucae.

The main crops which can be protected with the compounds of the present invention comprise cereals (wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, corn, sorghum, etc.), fruit trees (apple, pear, plumb, peach, almond, cherry, banana, vines, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, etc.), citrus trees (orange, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, etc.), legumes (beans, peas, lentils, soybean, etc.), vegetables (spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, peppers, etc.), cucurbitaceae (pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, water-melons, etc.), oilseeds (sunflower, rape, peanut, castor-oil plant, coconut, etc.) tobacco, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar beet, sugar cane, cotton.

In particular, the compounds having general formula (I) have proved to be considerably effective in the control of Plasmopara viticola on vines, Phytophtora infestans and Botrytis Cinerea on tomatoes, Puccinia recondita, Erysiphe graminis, Helminthosporium teres, Septoria nodorum and Fusarium spp. on cereals; in the control of Phakopsora pachyrhizi on soya; in the control of Uromyces appendiculatus on beans; in the control of Venturia inaequalis on apples, in the control of Sphaeroteca fuliginea on cucumbers.

Furthermore, the compounds having general formula (I) are also effective in the control of phytopathogenic bacteria and viruses, such as for example Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., Erwinia amylovora, the mosaic virus of tobacco.

The compounds having formula (I) are capable of exerting a fungicidal action of both in curative and preventive applications and have a very low or zero phytotoxicity on the crops treated.

For practical uses in agriculture, it is often preferable to use fungicidal compositions containing compounds having formula (I) according to the present invention, suitably formulated.

A further object of the present invention relates to fungicidal compositions comprising one or more compounds having formula (I), a solvent and/or solid or liquid diluent, possibly a surfactant.

The above fungicidal compositions can be in the form of dry powders, wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, emulsions, micro-emulsions, pastes, granulates, water dispersible granules, solutions, suspensions, etc.: the choice of the type of composition will depend on the specific use.

The fungicidal compositions are prepared in the known way, for example by diluting or dissolving the active substance with a solvent medium and/or a solid or liquid diluent, possibly in the presence of surfactants.

Solid diluents or supports which can be used for example are: silica, kaolin, bentonite, talc, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, calcium carbonate, magnesia, gypsum, clays, synthetic silicates, attapulgite, sepiolite.

Solvents or liquid diluents which can be used, are for example, in addition to water, aromatic organic solvents (xylols or blends of alkylbenzols, chlorobenzene, etc.), paraffins (petroleum fractions), alcohols (methanol, propanol, butanol, octanol, glycerine, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, alkyl carbonates, alkyl esters of adipic acid, alkyl esters of glutaric acid, alkyl esters of succinic acid, alkyl esters of lactic acid, etc.), vegetable oils (rape oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, castor oil, corn oil, peanut oil, and their alkyl esters), ketones (cyclohexanone, acetone, acetophenone, isophorone, ethylamylketone, etc.), amides (N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.), sulfoxides and sulfones (dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylsulfone, etc.), and mixtures thereof.

Sodium salts, calcium salts, potassium salts, salts of triethylamine or triethanolamine of alkyl-naphthalenesulfonates, polynaphthalenesulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, aryl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, polycarboxylates, sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfo-succinates, lignin sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, can be used as surfactants; as also polyethoxylated fatty alcohols, polyethoxylated alkylphenols, polyethoxylated esters of sorbitol, polypropoxy polyethoxylates (block polymers).

The fungicidal compositions can also contain special additives for particular purposes, such as for example, antifreeze agents such as propylene glycol, or adhesion agents, such as gum Arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, etc.

If desired, other compatible active principles can be added to the fungicidal compositions containing the compounds of general formula (I), such as, for example, fungicides different from those having general formula (I), phytoregulators, antibiotics, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and/or mixtures thereof.

Examples of fungicides different from those having general formula (I), which can be included in the fungicidal compositions object of the present invention are: acibenzolar, ametoctradin, amisulbrom, ampropylfos, anilazine, azaconazole, azoxystrobin, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, benomyl, benthiavalicarb, bitertanol, bixafen, blasticidin-S, boscalid, bromuconazole, bupirimate, buthiobate, captafol, captan, carbendazim, carboxin, carpropamid, chinomethionat, chloroneb, chlorothalonil, chlozolinate, cyazofamid, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, debacarb, dichlofluanid, dichlone, diclobutrazol, diclomezine, dicloran, diclocymet, diethofencarb, difenoconazole, diflumetorim, dimethirimol, dimethomorph, dimoxystrobin, diniconazole, dinocap, dipyrithione, ditalimfos, dithianon, dodemorph, dodine, edifenphos, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, ethaboxam, ethirimol, ethoxyquin, etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenaminosulf, fenapanil, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fenfuram, fenhexamid, fenoxanil, fenpiclonil, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fentin, ferbam, ferimzone, fluazinam, fludioxonil, flumetover, flumorph, fluopicolide, fluopyram, fluoroimide, fluotrimazole, fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flusulfamide, flutianil, flutolanil, flutriafol, folpet, fosetyl-aluminium, fuberidazole, furalaxyl, furametpyr, furconazole, furconazole-cis, guazatine, hexaconazole, hymexazol, idrossichinolina solfato, imazalil, imibenconazole, iminoctadine, ipconazole, iprobenfos, iprodione, isoprothiolane, iprovalicarb, isopyrazam, isotianil, kasugamycin, kresoxim-methyl, mancopper, mancozeb, mandipropamid, maneb, mebenil, mepanipyrim, mepronil, meptyldinocap, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, metconazole, methfuroxam, metiram, metominostrobin, metrafenone, metsulfovax, myclobutanil, natamycin, nicobifen, nitrothal-isopropyl, nuarimol, ofurace, orysastrobin, oxadixyl, oxpoconazole, oxycarboxin, pefurazoate, penconazole, pencycuron, penflufen, pentachlorofenol and its salts, penthiopyrad, phthalide, picoxystrobin, piperalin, Bordeaux mixture, polyoxins, probenazole, prochloraz, procymidone, propamocarb, propiconazole, propineb, proquinazid, prothiocarb, prothioconazole, pyracarbolid, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyrazophos, pyribencarb, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, pyroquilon, pyroxyfur, quinacetol, quinazamid, quinconazole, quinoxyfen, quintozene, rabenzazole, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper (I) oxide, copper sulfate, sedaxane, silthiofam, simeconazole, spiroxamine, streptomycin, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, thiadifluor, thicyofen, thifluzamide, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, thiram, tiadinil, tioxymid, tolclofos-methyl, tolylfluanid, triadimefon, triadimenol, triarimol, triazbutil, triazoxide, tricyclazole, tridemorf, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, triforine, triticonazole, uniconazole, uniconazole-P, validamycin, valifenalate, vinclozolin, zineb, ziram, sulfur, zoxamide.

The concentration of compounds having general formula (I) in the above compositions can vary within a wide range; it generally ranges from 1% to 90%, preferably from 5% to 50%.

The application of these compositions can be effected on each part of the plant, for example on the leaves, stems, branches and roots, or on the seeds themselves before sowing, or on the ground in which the plant grows.

A further object of the present invention therefore relates to a method for the control of phytopathogenic fungi in agricultural crops, which consists in the application of effective dosages of the compounds having formula (I), used as such or formulated in fungicidal compositions as described above.

The quantity of compound to be applied for obtaining the desired effect can vary in relation to different factors, such as, for example, the compound used, the crop to be preserved, the type of pathogen, the degree of infection, the climatic conditions, the application method, the formulation adopted.

Doses of compound ranging from 10 g to 5 kg per hectare of agricultural crop generally provide a sufficient control.

The following examples are provided for a better understanding of the invention for illustrative and non-limiting purposes of the same.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 3-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-tri-methyl-4-indanyl)-1-methyl-4-pyrazolecarboxamide (Compound N. 1)

0.4 ml of triethylamine were dropped into a solution of 7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-aminoindane (0.45 g) and 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl chloride (0.44 g) in 8 ml of dichloromethane.

After being kept under stirring for 8 hours at room temperature, diluted hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction mixture, the phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane.

The organic phases were then joined, anhydrified with sodium sulfate and concentrated at reduced pressure.

The raw product obtained was subsequently purified on a silica gel column (eluent hexane/ethyl acetate 8/2) to give 0.45 g of the desired product, a white solid with a melting point of 147° C.

¹H NMR (200 Mhz, CDCl₃) δ a: 1.43 (3H,d), 1.38 (3H,s), 1.44 (3H,s), 1.66 (1H,dd), 2.21 (1H,dd), 3.38 (1H m), 3.98(3H,s),6.81 (1H, bs), 6.95 (1H,t), 6.70.(1H, m), 7.81 (1H,bs), 8.03 (1H,bs).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Compounds N.2-9

Analogously to the procedure of Example 1, the compounds of general formula (I) reported in Table 1 have been prepared.

TABLE 1 Compound N^(o) A R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ R₅ 2 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Et Et H Me 7-F pyrazolyl 3 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Me Me H Me 7-OMe pyrazolyl 4 4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-5- Me Me H Me 7-F thiazolyl 5 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Me Me H Me 7-Me pyrazolyl 6 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Me Me H Me 7-Cl pyrazolyl 7 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Me Me H Me 7-OCF₃ pyrazolyl 8 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-4- Me Me H Me 7-SMe pyrazolyl Melting points: N^(o) 2: 115° C.; N^(o) 3: 110° C.; N^(o) 4: 95° C.; N^(o) 6: 140° C.; N^(o) 7: 105° C.; N^(o) 8: 97° C.

EXAMPLE 3 Determination of the Fungicidal Activity in Preventive Application (5 Days) Against Erysiphe graminis on Wheat

Leaves of wheat plants of the Salgemma variety, grown in pots in a conditioned environment kept at 20° C. and 70% of relative humidity (R.H.), were treated by spraying on both sides of the leaves with the compounds under examination, dispersed in hydroacetonic solutions at 20% by volume of acetone.

After remaining 5 days in a conditioned environment, the plants were infected under dry conditions by shaking over them, in order to distribute the inoculum, plants previously infected by Erysiphe graminis.

The plants were then maintained in the same cell, in a humidity-saturated environment and at a temperature ranging from 18 to 24° C. for 12 days.

At the end of this period, the external symptoms of the pathogen appeared and it was therefore possible to proceed with the evaluation of the intensity of the infection, on both the parts treated directly with the products (T), and also on the parts which had developed during the test (NT), by means of a visible percentage evaluation scale of the area of affected leafs; the scale comprises, as extremes, the value 100 (healthy plant) and the value 0 (completely infected plant).

At the same time, the phytotoxicity was evaluated (percentage of leaf necrosis) induced on the wheat plants by the application of the products: in this case, the evaluation scale varies from 0 (completely healthy plant) to 100 (completely necrotized plant).

Table 2 shows the results obtained by carrying out the test described with compound N. 1, compared with the following reference products described in prior art:

-   RC1:     3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide     of U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,347; -   RC2:     1,5-dimethyl-3-trifluoro-methyl-N-(1,1-dimethyl-7-fluoro-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide     [EP199822, page 15, lines 19-20]; -   RC3:     1,3,5-trimethyl-N-(1,1-dimethyl-5-fluoro-4-indanyl)-4-pyrazolecarboxamide     [EP199822,compound (4)].

TABLE 2 Preventive fungicidal activity (5 days) against Erysiphe graminis on wheat. Dose Activity Compound (ppm) T/NT Phytotoxicity N. 1 125 95/90 0 CR-1 125 70/65 10 CR-2 125 25/15 0 CR-3 125 10/0  0 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. Aminoindane amides having structural formula (I):

wherein: R₁, R₂ and R₄, equal to or different from each other, represent a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, the groups R₁ and R₂ can possibly also be joined to form a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group spiro-condensed with indanyl; R₃ represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group; R₅ represents a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group, an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio group; n represents an integer ranging from 1 to 3; A represents one of the following heterocycles A₂-A₅:

R₆ is a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group, an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio group.
 17. The compounds according to claim 16, selected from the following compounds having general formula (I): 4-difluoromethyl-N-(7-fluoro-1,1,3-trimethyl-4-indanyl)-2-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxamide.
 18. The compounds according to claim 16, characterized in that they are in the form of racemic mixtures, diastereoisomeric mixtures, partially separated mixtures, single optical isomers and/or single diastereoisomers.
 19. Fungicidal compositions comprising one or more compounds having formula (I) according to claim 16, a solvent and/or solid or liquid diluent, possibly a surfactant.
 20. Fungicidal compositions according to claim 19, also comprising active principles compatible with the compounds having general formula (I), selected from fungicides different from the compounds having general formula (I), phytoregulators, antibiotics, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and/or mixtures thereof, antifreeze agents, adhesion agents.
 21. The compositions according to claim 19, wherein the concentration of compounds having general formula (I) ranges from 1 to 90% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition, preferably from 5 to 50% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition.
 22. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of aminoindane amides having structural formula (I):

wherein: R₁, R₂ and R₄, equal to or different from each other, represent a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, the groups R₁ and R₂ can possibly also be joined to form a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group spiro-condensed with indanyl; R₃ represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group; R₅ represents a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group, an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio group; n represents an integer ranging from 1 to 3; A represents one of the following heterocycles A₂-A₅:

R₆ is a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, a C₁-C₃ haloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl group, a C₃-C₆ halocycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy group, an SH group, a C₁-C₄ alkylthio group, a C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio group.
 23. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of the compounds according to claim
 17. 24. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of compositions according to claim
 19. 25. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of compositions according to 19 for the control of phytopathogen fungi belonging to the group of Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes, Deuteromycetes or fungi imperfecti, Oomycetes: Puccinia spp., Ustilago spp., Tilletia spp., Uromyces spp., Phakopsora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Erysiphe spp., Sphaerotheca spp., Podosphaera spp., Uncinula spp., Helminthosporium spp., Rhynchosporium spp., Pyrenophora spp., Monilinia spp., Sclerotinia spp., Septoria spp. (Mycosphaerella spp.), Venturia spp., Botrytis spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Cercospora spp., Cercosporella herpotrichoides, Colletotrichum spp., Pyricularia oryzae, Sclerotium spp., Phytophtora spp., Pythium spp., Plasmopara viticola, Peronospora spp., Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Bremia lactucae.
 26. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of a composition according to claim 19, wherein the agricultural crops are cereals, fruit trees, citrus fruits, legumes, horticultural crops, cucurbits, oleaginous plants, tobacco, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar beet, sugar cane, cotton.
 27. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of a composition according to claim 19 for the control of Plasmopara viticola on vines, Phytophtora infestans and Botrytis Cinerea on tomatoes, Puccinia recondita, Erisiphae graminis, Helminthosporium teres, Septoria nodorum and Fusarium spp. on cereals; Phakopsora pachyrhizi on soya; Uromyces appendiculatus on beans; Venturia inaequalis on apples, Sphaeroteca fuliginea on cucumbers.
 28. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount to said agricultural crops of a compound according to formula (I) of claim 16 for the control of phytopathogenic bacteria or viruses.
 29. A method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi in agricultural crops, which consists in applying effective doses of a compound according to formula (I) of claim 16 in amounts ranging from 10 g to 5 kg per hectare of agricultural crop.
 30. A method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi of agricultural crops comprising applying an effective amount of a composition according to claim 19 to said agricultural crops for the control of phytopathogenic bacteria or viruses. 